Only 10 Days Left to Purchase Advance Tickets to This Year’s Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party on April 21

Foodies and gridiron fans will huddle-up for a night of food, football-themed-fun and fundraising while helping to tackle childhood hunger at this year’s Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party – touching down Sunday, April 21, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. There’s only 10 days left to purchase advance tickets online<http://web.ntfb.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=364>for $150 a person or $250 a couple. After 5 p.m. on April 18, any remaining tickets will be sold at the door on the night of the event for $175 per guest, while supplies last. The ninth annual event, held in conjunction with Abacus and presented by Lockheed Martin, returns this year to the Glass Cactus Nightclub in Grapevine and benefits the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB).Event Hosts DeMarcus Ware #94 and Jason Hatcher #97 welcome former Dallas Cowboys Preston Pearson, Chad Hennings and Daryl Johnston, and Abacus Executive Chef/Proprietor Kent Rathbun as co-hosts of this spirited evening, transforming the classic tailgate into a “party with a purpose,” featuring:

Unique opportunity to mingle with current and former Dallas Cowboys hosts and special guests, including Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders;

Live music by headliner Emerald City;

Silent and live auction items featuring one-of-a-kind experiences and merchandise like: exclusive dining packages, a dove hunt for 10 in Throckmorton County, a Texas Motor Speedway package with pit passes and VIP entry to its three major races, a private birthday party at the Perot Museum for 20 kids and 20 parents, and autographed sports memorabilia; and

“This fun evening has become a springtime tradition, and we are grateful to be on the receiving end of the enormous generosity of our amazing hosts, a great lineup of talented chefs and dedicated sponsors,” said Jan Pruitt, president and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. “You are helping to elevate this issue as our organization works to tackle childhood hunger, and raise the funds needed to provide healthier, more nutritious options as we head into summer – one of the hungriest times of year.”
All event proceeds will go towards supporting NTFB’s children’s programs including: the Food 4 Kids backpack, Kids Cafe and School Pantry programs, which aim to tackle childhood hunger here in North Texas.Special thanks to this year’s venue host the Glass Cactus Nightclub; presenting sponsor Lockheed Martin; “Go Green” sponsor VHA, Novation, Provista; additional sponsors like Albertsons; Black, Mann & Graham, LLP; McAlister’s, USMD Physician Services, and Wingstop; media partners CBS 11/TXA 21 and 105.3 The Fan; sponsors providing in-kind services, donating ingredients to complete the tailgate spread or contributing fabulous raffle and silent auction items; the entire Host committee; and all the dedicated volunteers committed to passionately pursuing a hunger-free community.
Last year, Taste of the NFL: The Ultimate Cowboys Tailgate Party successfully reached the $1 million dollar fundraising milestone for funds generated since this local effort initiated back in 2005. Organizers hope to add at least $200,000 to that total in 2013. Taste of the NFL is a group of events held nationally that rallies the country’s top chefs and the NFL’s greatest to raise money in support of area food banks. Thus far, DFW’s annual spin-off has helped provide millions of meals to hungry North Texas children, and requests for assistance often spike each summer when kids are out of school.The NTFB’s Food 4 Kids program provides backpacks full of nutritious food to chronically hungry children identified by local schools each semester, and for the fifth straight year the organization is aiming to continue that outreach during summer school. The Food Bank will also operate a select number of Kids Cafes through programs in at-risk areas during the months of June, July and August. But work remains to be done. According to recent USDA data, Texas continues to have one of the highest rates of food insecure children in the country; currently 1 in 4 live in a household without consistent access to nutrition.
Please visit the Food Bank’s website at www.ntfb.org<http://www.ntfb.org>for additional event information, to learn more about the nonprofit’s programs serving children and upcoming volunteer opportunities, or to see how the organization is committed to “ReThinking Hunger<http://web.ntfb.org/page.aspx?pid=270>” by bringing healthier, smarter and stronger solutions to the table to address demand. For every dollar donated, NTFB is able to provide three nutritious meals.

About North Texas Food BankThe North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit relief organization which leads the fight against hunger with knowledge-based strategies to distribute donated, purchased, and prepared foods through a network of feeding programs in 13 North Texas counties. NTFB supports the nutritional needs of children, families and seniors through research, education, advocacy and strategic partnerships. In FY 2012, NTFB provided access to more than 47 million nutritious meals, a 45% increase year-over-year. Founded in 1982, the year 2012 marked NTFB’s 30th anniversary. NTFB is a member of Feeding America (feedingamerica.org). For more information about NTFB, please visit www.ntfb.org<http://www.ntfb.org>.

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